Seed coating to promote plant growth and method of increasing plant yield

ABSTRACT

A seed coated with a seed grind, and optionally a source of sugar, a source of bicarbonate, and/or a source of fertilizer nutrient to supply plant roots with additional uptake-available carbon and energy to promote rapid growth. A method of coating seeds with the coating and a method of growing plants from the coated seed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a seed coating comprising a seed grind whichcan further include a source of sugar, a source of bicarbonate, and/or asource of fertilizer nutrient. The invention further is also related toa method of growing plants using the seed coating. The invention furtherrelates to a method of coating seed with the seed coating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Due to rising populations around the world and limited arable land forgrowing food, finding ways to improve food production is a seriousconcern. It is well known that plants need energy, nitrogen, phosphorus,potassium, secondary nutrients, micronutrients, water and carbon orcarbon dioxide to grow.

When a plant seed first sprouts to form a small seedling, the onlycarbon, nutrients, and energy available for growth are stored in theseed. Stored within the seed is all that the seedling needs to growuntil it can form its roots and to produce leaves. Initially, the rootsform and then the leaves. The leaves of the small seedling have verylittle surface area, and photosynthesis is limited to the amount ofenergy the leaves can absorb as well as carbon that the leaves and rootscan make available to build new plant cells. For this reason, for earlygrowth the seedling uses the carbon and energy stored in the seed aswell as nutrients in the seed. If a plant gets a head start by havingavailable additional seed components in combination with sufficientadditional fertilizer nutrients, then the seedling more efficientlytakes up nutrients and can produce more growth through photosynthesis.The head start allows the plant to outcompete other plants and weeds andto put on growth before pests such as insects and molds have had achance to multiply. As a result, plants with an early advantage arehealthier and go on to produce greater crop yields. When a plant seedfirst sprouts, the only nutrients and energy available for growth arestored in the seed. Roots that form at spouting allow the plant togather nutrients from the soil as well as to uptake energy and gases inthe soil even before the plant leaves are formed. Fine roots (hairyroots) are known to be most important for nutrient uptake. If a plant isstimulated to produce early roots, these roots give the plant a headstart that allows it to more efficiently take up nutrients.

It is known that leaves of plants take up carbon dioxide and gatherenergy from the sun for photosynthesis to produce new plant growth.However, the amount of carbon dioxide in air is extremely low (currentlyabout 400 ppm). Carbon is a limiting nutrient in plant growth, and thusfinding other ways to supply carbon dioxide to plants have beeninvestigated for years. Further, the leaves of a small seedling when ithas emerged have very little surface area, and photosynthesis to convertenergy and carbon dioxide to food for the plant is limited to the amountof energy the leaves can absorb from sunlight as well as carbonavailable to build new plant cells.

In the past, studies into supplying carbon dioxide to the roots ofplants have shown improved plant growth and yield. These studies haveshown increased root growth and improved nutrient uptake. Also, as soiltemperature increases, soil organisms flourish, consume nutrients in thesoil, and produce carbon dioxide as a by-product. Over time, this causesthe carbon dioxide in the soil to increase. Earlier growth of soilorganisms can be promoted by supplying energy in the form ofcarbohydrates and thereby increase the early levels of carbon dioxide inthe soil resulting in early growth of plant roots.

Coating seed is a common practice in agriculture. Seed coatings toprotect plants against disease, decay, and prey is commonly practiced.Further, seed coatings are used to provide microbiologicals such asRhizobacteria and Mycorrhizal fungi that improve soil health andinteract with the plant to promote growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel seed coating has been developed to provide plants as they sproutfrom seeds additional energy and nutrients by using a seed grind andoptionally additional carbon dioxide and energy.

The present invention relates to a seed coating comprising a seed grindand can also include a source of sugar and/or a source of bicarbonate.The invention further relates to methods of growing plants using theseed coating. The invention can supply plant roots with additionaluptake-available plant nutrients, carbon, and energy-rich carbohydratesfrom the seed grind, and can also include a source of bicarbonate and/orsource of sugar to promote surprisingly rapid growth that helps toovercome the low surface area of early leaves and thereby increase plantgrowth. The plant nutrients, carbon, energy-rich carbohydrates, sourceof bicarbonate, and source of sugar are readily available to roots earlyin the growth of the plant.

When used, the source of bicarbonate can provide carbon dioxide to theplant roots.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind and a source of bicarbonate.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind and source of sugar.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind, a source of bicarbonate, and a source of sugar.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind, a source of bicarbonate, and a source offertilizer nutrient.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind, and a source of sugar, and a source offertilizer nutrient.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind, a source of bicarbonate, a source of sugar, anda source of fertilizer nutrient.

An alternative embodiment of the invention relates to a seed coatingcomprising a seed grind applied to the seed with a renewablebiodegradable adherent comprising sucrose octaester.

The seed coating of the invention can increase early root growth andearly leaf and stem growth in plants. The current invention is effectivefor growing many plants and crops including cotton, soybeans, rice,wheat, corn, sugar beets, ornamental plants, trees, turf grasses,vegetables, sorghum, fruit, bushes, energy grasses, and other plantsgrown from seed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 attached is drawing shows a seed (2) with a coating (4) thereon.

FIG. 2 is an annotated photograph comparing two plants grown in Example5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe that thepresent invention provides a complete package of energy, carbon,proteins, nutrients, secondary nutrients, and micro nutrients in theform of a seed grind. In addition, the present invention includes asource of carbon dioxide for plant uptake through the roots in the formof bicarbonate and well as readily available additional energy andcarbon in the form of sugar. This combination of ingredients isspecially balanced to give the plant what it needs for early growth thatprovides an unexpected increase in plant growth and crop yield.

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe the inventivefertilizer enhances early root growth of plants and early plant growthas will be shown by our examples.

It is well documented by agronomists that when a plant has a head start,it is a healthier and more productive plant. A set of tests is performedusing a unique approach to observe early root growth without damagingthe plants. This can be accomplished by planting seeds in cups of soilwhere the cup is transparent. This transparent cup is then placed insidean opaque cup. The coated seeds are planted in the soil against theinside surface of the transparent cup so that roots are checked simplyby pulling the transparent cup out of the opaque cup and then replacingit when finished with the observation. The opaque cup protects the rootsfrom light during growth. The roots can be viewed and pictures takenwithout disturbing the plants as they are developing and therefore aview of the early growth of the roots is possible. Seeing the earlyroots reveals how quickly they develop and allows them to be comparedwith roots for baseline tests and thereby shows the extreme benefits ofcoated seed even before significant plant leaves are formed. Theseobservations and the crop yields obtained later for the plants that aretransplanted from the cups demonstrates that early improved plant growthdevelopment for the invention results in increased plant growth andincreased crop yield. Even early in the plant growth, the improvementsin the roots of the plants grown from the invention are dramaticallyevident to the observer. Without being bound by any theory, theinventors believe that this is because the plant's need for nutrients,carbon dioxide, and energy is supplied before the leaves of the plantscan provide them.

FIG. 2 is an annotated photograph comparing two plants grown using thecup method described above. The cotton plant on the left labeled asbaseline was grown under the same conditions as the cotton plant in thecup on the right except that it was grown from a seed that was notcoated with the invention. The plant in the cup on the right was grownfrom seed coated with inventive coating and the difference in theseedlings is dramatically visible. The coated seed according to thepresent invention provide a surprising and unexpected growth ratecompared to an uncoated seed.

For this description, crop yield refers to the weight of plant productper unit growing area, wherein the plant product is the part of theplant that is valuable as a commercial product, such as grain forexample. Crop yield is typically expressed as kg/hectare,tonnes/hectare, bushels/acre, bushels/hectare or pounds/acre dependingon the type of crop grown.

A seed grind is ground seed. For this invention, seed can be one of thefollowing: whole seed or whole seed without a seed coating. For rice,the whole seed is comprised of a hull (seed coating) as well as bransurrounding an endosperm and a germ and is referred to as rough rice.For rice, if the hull is removed the seed is brown rice. If the bran isremoved, the seed is white rice. Cereal crops have bran surrounding theseed and when ground, the resulting seed grind is referred to as wholegrain seed grind or brown seed grind.

Seed grind can include seed that is not clean or pure and may not beconsidered safe for human consumption since the seed grind is used inthe invention for the growth of plants. Seed grind can include otheringredients such as one or more of the group comprising additional plantparts, dirt and/or other contaminants, molds, fungi, dispersing agents,parting agents, binders, bacteria, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides,stabilizers, and/or other contaminants or additives. This seed grinddoes not require the use of seed that has been cleaned to levels forhuman consumption.

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe that using aseed grind formed from ground up seeds increases the available seedingredients used to grow the initial roots from a seed, which greatlyenhances the initial root and plant growth. The early growth of roots isfar more beneficial than enhancement of plant growth later in thegrowing cycle. For example, plants having enhanced early root growthstay ahead of other plants not having enhanced early root growththroughout the entire growing season. Preferably, the seed grind isformed from the same type of seed to be grown. For example, for growingrice seed, ground up rice seeds (seed grind) is preferably used toenhance the early growth of roots from the seed. However, other types ofseed grind (non-rice seeds) can be used as an enhancer for rice.Likewise, for example, brown rice seed grind (non-cotton seeds) has beenfound to be effective at enhancing the early growth of roots and plantsfrom cotton seeds, corn seeds, and wheat seeds.

Seed grind can contain many benefits for plants. For example, Table 1shows a comparison of energy and nutrients of various seeds, accordingto USDA Nutrient Database (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/).

TABLE 1 Energy and Nutrients in Selected Grains Nutritional Value per100 g Corn Meal Brown White Whole (Corn Seed Corn Rice Rice Wheat Grind)Starch Energy 370 kcal 370 kcal 332 kcal 361 kcal 375 kcal Carbohydrates77.24 g 81.68 g 74.48 g 76.85 g 87.5 Sugars 0.85 g Not reported 1.02 g0.64 g 0 Dietary Fiber 3.52 g 2.8 13.1 g 7.3 g 0 Fat 2.92 g 0.55 g 1.95g 3.86 g 0 Protein 7.82 g 6.81 g 9.61 g 6.93 g 0 Calcium 23 mg 11 mg 33mg 7 mg 0 Iron 1.47 mg 1.6 mg 3.71 g 2.38 mg 0 Magnesium 143 mg 23 mg117 g 93 mg 0 Phosphorus 333 mg 71 mg 323 mg 272 mg 0 Potassium 223 mg77 mg 394 mg 315 mg 0 Selenium 23.4 μg 15.1 μg 12.7 μg 15.4 μg 0 Sodium7 mg 7 mg 3 mg 5 mg 0 Zinc 2.02 mg 1.2 mg 2.96 mg 1.73 mg 0

Brown rice also contains many vitamins. As can be seen from Table 1,brown rice contains energy including carbohydrates and sugars as well asnutrients that are beneficial to plant growth. Brown rice seed grindcontains more than white rice seed grind. Similarly, corn seed grindcontains nutrients not found in corn starch.

Based on the chemical formula for corn starch, the percent carbonpresent in corn starch is 46.8%. According to Xue, the carbon in ricegrain is 53-64% (Xue, W-ei, “Evaluation of biophysical factors drivingtemporal variations in carbon gain, water use and yield production inrice,” Thesis, Lanzhou University, January 2015).

An alternative embodiment of the invention is a seed coating comprisinga seed grind.

Seed grind including the whole seed can provide more benefit to thegrowth of plants than seed grind that includes only seed without thehull, coating, and/or bran. For the invention, the seed grind comprisesone or more selected from the group rice seed grind, brown rice seedgrind, white rice seed grind, rough rice seed grind, rye seed grind,cornmeal seed grind, soybean seed grind, buckwheat seed grind, triticaleseed grind, wheat seed grind, whole grain wheat seed grind, oat seedgrind, and/or others. Preferably the seed grind used is brown rice seedgrind and/or rough rice seed grind.

The invention may also include a source of bicarbonate. The source ofbicarbonate comprising at least one source selected from the groupammonium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate.Preferably, the source of bicarbonate can be at least one of the alkalibicarbonates.

The invention further can include one or more source of sugar selectedfrom the group comprising sucrose, fructose, galactose, glucose,lactose, maltose, xylose, powdered sugar, corn syrup, cane syrup, agave,sorghum, honey, sugar cane, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables, andcompounds that form or release sugar when the coated seed is planted insoil.

A source of fertilizer nutrient of the invention can comprise one ormore of the following sources of nutrients:

1) one or more nitrogen compounds selected from the group comprisingurea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, diammoniumphosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), potassium nitrate,ammonium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate, and/or sodium nitrate;

2) one or more phosphorous compounds selected from the group comprisingtriple super phosphate, single super phosphate, diammonium phosphate,monoammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate,tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and/or potassium metaphosphate;

3) one or more potassium compounds selected from the group comprisingpotassium chloride, potassium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate, potassiumsulfate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tetrapotassiumpyrophosphate, and/or potassium metaphosphate; and

4) one or more secondary nutrients, and micronutrients sources selectedfrom the group comprising elemental sulfur, calcium carbonate(limestone), dolomite, gypsum, shell, marl, iron sulfate, iron oxides,chelated iron, iron nitrate, zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, chelated zinc,zinc-oxysulfate, zinc carbonate, copper oxide, copper sulfate, coppernitrate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, sodiumborate, chelated manganese EDTA, calcium sulfate, calcium nitrate,calcium oxide, magnesium carbonate, selenium sulfate and selenium oxide,sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), sodium tetraborate pentahydrate,sodium tetraborate-pentaborate, colemanite, ammonium molybdate, sodiummolybdate, molybdic oxide, sodium bicarbonate, and/or manganese sulfate,to name a few;

The source of bicarbonate of the invention is one or more selected fromthe group sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, and/or ammoniumbicarbonate.

Because the seed coating is applied to the seed, the coating by natureof the invention immediately can be available to young plant as soon asthe roots form and can be effective to promote growth at lower amountsof application than would be needed to achieve the same level of growthenhancement by broadcasting the seed coating components on the field.

The seed coating can be applied to a seed by any desired method, such asfilm coating, pelleting, or encrusting. Conventional seed coatingmethods are now well-known and the carrier components used inconventional seed coating methods can be utilized, such as binders.

The seed coating can be applied to the seed using one or more adherentthat is essentially free of water. The adherent acts as a glue to holdthe seed coating to the seed. Adherents include waxes such as bees wax,paraffin wax, microcrystalline waxes, vegetable waxes such as soy wax,biodegradable sucrose ocatestesr, and more.

An alternative means of applying the seed coating can use adherents thatcontain water and crystallize when dried. These adherents can includeone or more of the group corn syrup, cane syrup, agave, maple syrup, andmore.

An alternative means of applying the seed coating can use compression ofthe coating onto the seed without the use of water similar to methodsused to make tablets.

An alternative means of applying the seed coating can use liquids freeof water to react to hold the coating to the seed such as is used inepoxy coating and/or the polymerization of materials.

If soil tests show soil for growing a plant to be deficient in one ormore nutrients, then a first fertilizer that comprises a small amount ofnitrogen with other primary nutrients, secondary nutrients, andmicronutrients at the levels indicated by the soil test can be appliedto the soil. The first fertilizer can be applied just before, with, orjust after the coated seed of the invention.

At planting and prior to, with or after planting of the coated seed, afirst fertilizer can be applied to the soil. This first fertilizercomprises preferably up to 50.4 kg/hectare (45 pounds/acre) nitrogen,more preferably up to 44.8 kg/hectare (40 pounds/acre) nitrogen, morepreferably 16.8-39.2 kg/hectare (15-35 pounds/acre), and most preferably22.4-33.6 kg/hectare (20-30 pounds/acre) of first nitrogen. In addition,the first fertilizer can include other nutrients and micronutrientsrecommended based on the crop being grown and the soil test results onthe soil used to grow the crop.

Thus, the present invention can include methods of applying the present,inventive coated seed, the application of a first fertilizer followed bythe application of the present inventive coated seed or applying thefirst fertilizer and inventive coated seed simultaneously, or applyingthe first fertilizer contained within the inventive coated seed.

The first fertilizer can comprise one or more of the followingnutrients:

1) one or more nitrogen compounds selected from the group comprisingurea, ammonia, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate,diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), potassiumnitrate, ammonium bicarbonate, urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN), potassiumnitrate, and/or sodium nitrate;

2) one or more phosphorous compounds selected from the group comprisingtriple super phosphate, single super phosphate, diammonium phosphate,monoammonium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate,tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, and/or potassium metaphosphate;

3) one or more potassium compounds selected from the group comprisingpotassium chloride, potassium bicarbonate, potassium nitrate, potassiumsulfate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, tetrapotassiumpyrophosphate, and/or potassium metaphosphate;

4) one or more secondary nutrients, and micronutrients sources selectedfrom the group comprising elemental sulfur, calcium carbonate(limestone), dolomite, gypsum, shell, marl, iron sulfate, iron oxides,chelated iron, iron nitrate, zinc sulfate, zinc oxide, chelated zinc,zinc-oxysulfate, zinc carbonate, copper oxide, copper sulfate, coppernitrate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, sodiumborate, boric acid, chelated manganese EDTA, calcium sulfate, calciumnitrate, calcium oxide, magnesium carbonate, selenium sulfate andselenium oxide, sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), sodiumtetraborate pentahydrate, sodium tetraborate-pentaborate, colemanite,ammonium molybdate, sodium molybdate, molybdic oxide, sodiumbicarbonate, and/or manganese sulfate, to name a few;

5) one or more liquid nutrient sources selected from the groupcomprising urea-ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonia, bio slurries, and otherslurries and suspensions; and

6) one or more organic nutrient sources selected from the groupcomprising manures, animal litters, and others.

Without being bound by any theory, the inventors believe the inventivefertilizer enhances early root growth of plants and early plant growthas will be shown by our examples.

All amounts of components of the coating are weight % based on the totalweight of the coating, unless otherwise stated. For a preferred coating,the coating comprises an amount of 0.5 to 99 wt. % seed grind and anamount of 1 to 99 wt. % source of sugar.

For another preferred coating, the coating comprises an amount of 0.5 to99 wt. % seed grind and an amount of 1 to 75 wt. % source ofbicarbonate.

For another preferred coating, the coating comprises an amount of 1 to99 wt. % seed grind, an amount of 1 to 75 wt. % source of sugar, and anamount of 1 to 75% source of bicarbonate.

For another preferred coating, the coating comprises an amount of 1 to100 wt. % seed grind.

A level of coating of the invention means the weight of the seed coatingas a percentage of the total weight of the coated seed. A preferablelevel of coating is from 0.5 to 85 wt. %, preferably 10 to 75 wt. %.

A particularly effective coated seed of the invention comprises coatingcotton seed with potassium bicarbonate, brown rice seed grind, and cornsyrup as shown in Example 5.

A further method of the invention comprises the following steps:

Step 1) Test soil to identify first fertilizer needed to maximize rootand plant growth; Step 2) Plant coated seed in preferably 20 to 1000cubic cm first fertilized soil, more preferably 5 to 450 cubic cm offirst fertilized soil; Step 3) Transplant the plants preferably 1 to 16weeks after emergence, more preferably 3 to 8 weeks after emergence; andStep 4) Test the soil of the transplanted plants and fertilize.

An alternative inventive method comprises the following steps:

Step 1) Test the soil to identify first fertilizer needed to maximizegrowth; Step 2) First fertilize the soil; Step 3) Plant coated seed; andStep 4) Fertilizer with additional fertilizer at least 2 weeks afteremergence.

An additional effective method of the invention includes the following:

Step 1) Reserving a portion of harvest of a crop to form into a seedgrind; Step 2) Applying the seed grind to seed to produce a coated seed;Step 3) Performing soil tests to identify primary nutrient, secondarynutrient, and micronutrient deficiencies; Step 4) Applying firstnutrients to the soil early in growth of a crop being grown at more thanthe levels typically recommended for the crop being grown; Step 4)Planting the coated seed.

When coated seed of the invention is used, more nitrogen should beapplied to the crop than is typically applied because the increasedplant growth will require increased amounts of nitrogen. The nitrogencan be applied as a first fertilizer as well as later in the cropgrowth. The application of additional nitrogen with the coated seedproduces an increase in crop yield that is much more than is produced byapplying the same level of nitrogen fertilizer without the coated seed.

All of the seed coating use seed grind. For example, a rice farmer cannow form the seed grind using seeds from a previous crop. Previous tothe present invention, a small percentage of the crop can be saved foruse in planting for growing the next season. However, now with thepresent invention, an additional small percentage of the crop should beretained for grinding into a seed grind for a surprisingly increasedgrowth the next season. The increased growth more than offsets theadditional small percentage of the crop retained.

In a still further method, the seed grind optionally containing sourceof bicarbonate and/or source of sugar be applied seed with a fertilizerof the applicator's choice.

A particle size range of a seed grind can be preferably 95% of theparticles by weight between 44 micrometers (325 ISO sieve designation)and 2.00 mm (10 ISO sieve designation) or preferably 90% of the particleby weight between 63 micrometers (230 ISO sieve designation) and 2.00 mm(10 ISO sieve designation). We believe that seed grinds having a higherpercentage of larger particle sizes will have a slower release ofbenefits to a plant over time and that seed grinds having a higherpercentage of lower particles sizes will have a faster release ofbenefits to a plant over time. Thus, the size of the seed grind can beadjusted for the particular application as desired.

The present invention will be demonstrated with reference to thefollowing examples, which are of an illustrative nature only and whichare to be construed as non-limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Seed used for this example was Oryza sativa long grain rice varietyDiamond™ seed treated with Nipslt Suite® (an insecticide and fungicide)and AV-1011® (a bird repellent) which was carefully selected asrepresentative of all rice grown commercially and provides an excellentmodel for testing commercial rice. This rice seed was coated with brownrice seed grind. The coating was applied by spraying the seed lightlywith water and then rolling it in the powder. The resulting coated seedwere visually inspected and then separated into two levels of coating:low and high.

Glass cylindrical vases which were 2.54 cm in diameter and 22.9 cm tallwere filled to 2.54 cm from the top with soil. The rice seed was planted1.9 cm beneath the soil surface and covered with sand. The vases werethen wrapped with black paper, placed under artificial grow lights witha timer was set to provide light from 6 am to 6 pm, and wateredregularly. After 41 days, the plants were carefully removed from thevases, thoroughly rinsed, and placed in an oven set to 50° C. to dry.The dry weight of the roots and plants are provided in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Dry Plant Weights and Dry Root Weights for Example 1 Tests ofCoated Rice Seed Weight of % Difference in Seed Coating Roots (g) RootsWeight Uncoated Seed 0.1490 Baseline Brown Rice Seed grind - Low Level0.1594 +6.98% Brown Rice Seed grind - High Level 0.1722 +15.6%

Conclusions:

-   -   Rice seed coated with brown rice seed grind produced an increase        in root weight for plants grown 41 days.    -   Higher levels of seed coating produced more root growth than        lower levels of seed coating.    -   Coating seed with brown rice seed grind produced up to 16%        increase in early root weight as compared to plants grown from        uncoated seed.

The significant increases in early root weight were surprising andunexpected based on the general knowledge had in the art prior to thepresent invention.

Example 2

For example 2, wheat seed was coated by lightly spraying the seed withwater and then rolling the seed in brown rice seed grind.

Vases were prepared as discussed in Example 1. The wheat seed wasplanted 2.54 cm (1 inch) beneath the soil surface and covered with sand.The vases were placed under artificial grow lights and a timer was setto provide light from 6 am to 6 pm. The vases were watered regularly tomaintain a normal moisture level. After 33 days, the plants werecarefully removed from the vases, rinsed and placed in a 50° C. oven todry. The dry weights are presented in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Dry Weights for Example 2 Wheat Tests Weight of Plants Weight ofTotal Weight Root Weight Coating and Roots (g) Roots (g) % Difference %Difference Brown Rice 0.2587 0.1649 +22% +27% Seed grind No Coating0.2117 0.1301 Baseline Baseline

Conclusions

After 33 days, wheat grown from seed coated with a brown rice seed grindcoating produced a 27% increase in root weight and 22% increase in rootand plant weight as compared to wheat grown with no seed coating.

The difference in percent increase in root weight was more than thedifference in percent increase in total plant and root weight showingthat the coating had more impact on early root growth than on growth ofplant leaves.

The significant increases in early root weight and total plant and rootweight were surprising and unexpected based on the general knowledge hadin the art prior to the present invention.

Example 3

Seeds coated for planting in Example 3 were cotton seeds. The cottonseed was obtained from a local cotton gin and were already pre-coatedwith a seed conditioning treatment. The cotton seed was pre-weighed tofall within the range of 0.0895 g to 0.1035 g.

The cotton seed for Example 3 was coated with the inventive coating byfirst rolling the seed in corn syrup and then rolling it in a mixture of50 wt. % Baking Powder and 50 wt. % Brown Rice Seed Grind. The coatingon 10 seeds was weighed and the average % coating was calculated andgiven in Table 4. The corn syrup used to coat the seeds contained waterand may not have fully dried before weighing the seed with the coatingon it. The baking powder used was Clabber Girl® Double Acting BakingPowder comprising corn starch, baking soda, sodium aluminum sulfate, andmonocalcium phosphate.

TABLE 4 Approximate Coating on 10 Cotton Seeds for Example 3 Weight ofWeight of Seed Coating Seeds Before Coating on Average % Powder MixtureCoating (g) 10 Seeds (g) Coating E 1.0 6.6 87% BL Baseline - no coatingmixture was applied

16 ounce clear containers (cups) were prepared for planting with thecoated seed by placing 400 g of sieved locally sourced top soil in eachcontainer. Each container was fertilized with 0.125 g super phosphate(N-P-K of 0-18-0) that was mixed into the soil. Each container was alsogiven additional first fertilizer as 25 mL of solution. The firstfertilizer solutions contained 0.2 g urea, 1.0 g Epsom Salt, and 0.2 gpotassium chloride per 25 mL of solution.

After applying the first fertilizer, the coated seeds were plantedapproximately 2.54 cm (1 inch) beneath the soil surface and thecontainers were given an additional 25 mL of water. Two seeds wereplanted in each container and three containers for each test wasplanted. The containers were placed in opaque containers to preventlight from getting to the roots and the soil was watered regularly. Thecontainers were then placed under grow lights. By planting the seeds inclear containers, the root growth could be observed on a regular basis.If two seeds sprouted in a container, the smaller sprout was removed.

The plants were transplanted into larger containers after 29 days. Thelarger containers were 18.9 liters (5 gallons). These containers hadholes drilled in them for drainage. Locally sourced sieved top soil wasused to grow the plants. Each container was filled to about 7.6 cm (3inches) from the top of the container. This was about 20 kg of soil. Afertilizer solution containing 0.28 g urea and 0.63 g of Epsom salt wasapplied to the soil and one cotton plant was transplanted to eachcontainer. The containers were placed in a field and watered regularly.

Twenty-one days after transplanting, the containers were each given 1.73g of monoammonium phosphate, 2.0 g KCl, 0.7 g ZnSO₄.H₂O, 0.50 g boricacid, and 33.4 g Epsom salt. Thirty-nine days after transplanting eachcontainer was given 1.12 g of urea and an additional 1.0 g was given 39days later.

Cotton bolls from the plants were cut, dried, and weighed. The averageweights of the bolls per container are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Weight of Dry Cotton Bolls for Example 3 Average Dry Wgt. ofCotton % Difference Seed Coating Label Bolls (g) from BaselineFormulation BL.1 54.3 0.0% Baseline E.1(b) 67.0 23.4% 50% BakingPowder + 50% Rice Seed Grind + Corn Syrup

Cotton bolls produced by plants grown from seed coated with a brown riceseed grind, corn syrup, and baking powder coating produced an average23% increase in cotton boll weight compared to cotton bolls produced bycotton plants grown with no inventive seed coating.

The significant increases in cotton boll weight was surprising andunexpected based on the general knowledge had in the art prior to thepresent invention.

Example 4

Seeds coated for planting in Example 4 were cotton seeds. The cottonseed was obtained from a local cotton gin and was already pre-coatedwith a seed conditioning treatment. The cotton seed was pre-weighed tofall within the range of 0.0895 g to 0.1035 g.

The cotton seed for Example 4 was coated with the inventive coating byfirst rolling the seed in corn syrup and then rolling it in a mixture of50 wt. % Sodium Bicarbonate and 50 wt. % Brown Rice Seed Grind. Thecoating on 10 seeds was weighed and the average % coating was calculatedand given in Table 4. The corn syrup used to coat the seeds containedwater and may not have fully dried before weighing the seed with thecoating on it.

TABLE 6 Coating on 10 Cotton Seeds for Example 4 Weight of Weight ofSeeds Before Coating on Average % Coating (g) 10 Seeds (g) CoatingCoated Seed 0.9 4.8 84% BL Baseline - no coating mixture was applied toseed

16 ounce clear containers (cups) were prepared for planting with thecoated seed by placing 400 g of sieved locally sourced top soil in eachcontainer. Each container was fertilized with 0.125 g super phosphate(N-P-K of 0-18-0) that was mixed into the soil. Each container was alsogiven additional first fertilizer as 25 mL of solution. The firstfertilizer solutions contained 0.2 g urea, 1.0 g Epsom Salt, and 0.2 gpotassium chloride per 25 mL of solution.

After applying the first fertilizer, the coated seeds were plantedapproximately 2.54 cm (1 inch) beneath the soil surface and thecontainers were given an additional 25 mL of water. Two seeds wereplanted in each container. The containers were placed in opaquecontainers to prevent light from getting to the roots and the soil waswatered regularly. The containers were then placed under grow lights. Byplanting the seeds in clear containers, the root growth could beobserved on a regular basis. If two seeds sprouted in a container, thesmaller sprout was removed.

29 days after planting the seeds, the plants were carefully removed fromthe containers, cleaned, dried, and weighed. The weights are shown inTable 7 below.

TABLE 7 Weight of Plants and Roots for Example 4 Weight of Plants TotalWeight % Coating and Roots (g) Difference 50% Sodium Bicarbonate +0.2587 +22% 50% Brown Rice Seed Grind + Corn Syrup No Seed Coating0.2117 Baseline

After 29 days, cotton plants grown from seed coated with a brown riceseed grind, sodium bicarbonate, and corn syrup coating produced a 22%increase in plant and root weight compared to cotton plants grown withno seed coating.

The significant increase in early root weight and total plant and rootweight was surprising and unexpected based on the general knowledge hadin the art prior to the present invention.

Example 5

Seeds coated for planting in Example 5 were cotton seeds. The cottonseed was obtained from a local cotton gin and were already pre-coatedwith a seed conditioning treatment. The cotton seed was pre-weighed tofall within the range of 0.0895 g to 0.1035 g.

The cotton seeds for Example 5 were coated with inventive coating byfirst rolling the seed in corn syrup and then rolling it in a mixture.The coating on 15 seeds was weighed and the average % coating wascalculated and given in Table 8. The corn syrup used to coat the seedscontained water and may not have fully dried before weighing the seedwith the coating on it.

TABLE 8 Approximate coating on 15 Cotton Seeds for Example 5 SeedCoating Weight of Weight of Powder *Seed Coating Seeds Before Coating onAverage Mixture Mixture Coating (g) 15 Seeds (g) % Coating C 40% KBC +1.4 0.7 32% 60% SG with CS D 20% KBC + 1.5 0.8 35% 80% SG with CS G 100%SG with 1.4 0.4 22% CS BL Baseline - no coating mixture was applied *KBC= potassium bicarbonate, SG = brown rice seed grind, CS = corn syrup

16 ounce clear containers (cups) were prepared for planting with thecoated seed by placing 420 g of sieved locally sourced top soil in eachcontainer. Each container was fertilized with 0.125 g super phosphate(N-P-K of 0-18-0) that was mixed into the soil. Each container was alsogiven additional first fertilizer as 25 mL of solution. The firstfertilizer solutions contained 0.2 g urea, 1.0 g Epsom Salt, and 0.2 gpotassium chloride per 25 mL of solution.

After applying the first fertilizer, the coated seeds were plantedapproximately 2.54 cm (1 inch) beneath the soil surface and thecontainers were given an additional 25 mL of water. Two seeds wereplanted in each container and three containers for each test wasplanted. The containers were placed in opaque containers to preventlight from getting to the roots and the soil was watered regularly. Thecontainers were then placed under grow lights. By planting the seeds inclear containers, the root growth could be observed on a regular basis.If two seeds sprouted in a container, the smaller sprout was removed.

The plants were transplanted into larger containers after 31 days. Thelarger containers were 18.9 liters (5 gallons). These containers hadholes drilled in them for drainage. Locally sourced sieved top soil wasused to grow the plants. Each container was filled to about 7.6 cm (3inches) from the top of the container. This was about 20 kg of soil and2.0 g of triple super phosphate was mixed into the top layer of soil ineach container. A fertilizer solution containing 0.5 g urea, 2.2 g KCl,0.7 g ZnSO₄.H₂O, 0.5 g boric acid, and 34.4 g of Epsom salt was appliedto the soil and one cotton plant was transplanted into each container.Because it was late in the season, the containers were placed in agreenhouse and watered regularly. Three containers for test C wereplanted, one for test D, three for test G, and one for test BL based onthe number of sprouted plants that survived.

Thirty-six days after transplanting, each bucket was given 1.12 g ofurea. Fourteen days later, each bucket was given 2.37 g urea.

In December, 184 days after the cotton seeds were first planted, thecotton plants were cut at the surface of the soil, dried, and weighed.The average weights of the plants from the duplicate tests are shown inTable 9.

TABLE 9 Weight of Dry Cotton Plants for Example 5 Average Dry Wgt. ofCotton % Difference *Seed Coating Label Plants (g) from BaselineFormulation BL.1 39.9  0% Baseline C 49.9 +25% 40% KBC + 60% SG with CSD 46.9 +18% 20% KBC + 80% SG with CS G 43.2 +8.4%  100% SG with CS *KBC= potassium bicarbonate, SG = brown rice seed grind, CS = corn syrup

Cotton plants grown from seed coated with the invention produced anaverage up to 25% increase in total plant weight compared to plantsgrown with no inventive seed coating.

It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative embodiments havebeen provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way tobe construed as limiting of the invention. Words used herein are wordsof description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Inaddition, the advantages and objectives described herein may not berealized by each and every embodiment practicing the present invention.Further, although the invention has been described herein with referenceto particular structure, materials and/or embodiments, the invention isnot intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather,the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methodsand uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Thoseskilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of thisspecification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes maybe made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Example 6

For Example 6, black-eyed pea seed was coated successfully using a 61 cm(24 inch) falling curtain drum where the flights inside the drum liftedand dropped the seed a short distance onto a collected pan near the topof the drum. The seed then rolled off of the collecting pan and formed acurtain of falling seed. Warm corn syrup was sprayed onto the seed atthe base of the falling curtain to from spray coated seed. Rice seedgrind was sprinkled onto the bed of spray coated seed after spraying athin coating onto the seed to form our inventive coated seed. The riceseed grind was continually added until there was excessive seed grind inwith the inventive coated seed after allowing the material in the drumto run for several minutes and allowing the rice seed grind to pressinto the spray coating. The inventive coated seed was then dried usinglow heat blown into the drum. The processes of spraying on corn syrup,sprinkling on rice seed grind, and drying was repeated several times.During the process, the material in the drum remained free-flowing. Theinventive coating on the final product was hard.

To estimate the percent coating 100 seeds without coating were weighedand found weigh 22.8 g. Next 100 seeds with coating were weighed andfound to weigh 32.2 g. Thus, the average percent coating was 29.2%.

While only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that thereare many possible variations and modifications which can be made in theexemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel andadvantageous features of this invention. Accordingly, it is intendedthat the following claims cover all such modifications and variations.

Example 7

For Example 7, rice seed was coated successfully using a rotary drumwhere the flights inside the drum were backward canted to roll the seedwithout lifting and dropping. Biodegradable sucrose octaester was pouredonto the rolling bed of seed. Finely ground rice seed grind wassprinkled onto the bed of coated seed to form our inventive coated seed.During the process, the material in the drum remained free-flowing.

While only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have beendescribed in detail, those skilled in the art will recognize that thereare many possible variations and modifications which can be made in theexemplary embodiments while yet retaining many of the novel andadvantageous features of this invention. Accordingly, it is intendedthat the following claims cover all such modifications and variations.

1. A coated seed having an enhanced seedling growth rate comprising: aseed; and a coating on the seed comprising a seed grind formed from aground seed, wherein the seed grind increases available seed componentsrequired for a seedling to grow to enhance the seedling growth.
 2. Thecoated seed according to claim 1, wherein the seed is selected from thegroup consisting of cotton, soybean, rice, wheat, corn, or sugar beet.3. The coated seed according to claim 1, wherein the seed is selectedfrom the group consisting of ornamental plants, trees, turf grasses,vegetables, sorghum, fruit, bushes, or energy grasses.
 4. The coatedseed according to claim 1, wherein the seed grind is formed from a wholeseed.
 5. The coated seed according to claim 1, wherein the seed grind isnot fit for human consumption and further comprises at least one ofadditional plant parts, dirt, contaminants, molds, fungi, dispersingagents, parting agents, binders, bacteria, herbicides, pesticides,fungicides, stabilizers, or additives.
 6. The coated seed according toclaim 1, wherein the coating further comprising a source of sugar. 7.The coated seed according to claim 6, wherein the source of sugar isselected from the group consisting of sucrose, fructose, galactose,glucose, lactose, maltose, xylose, powdered sugar, corn syrup, canesyrup, agave, sorghum, honey, sugar cane, sugar beets, fruits,vegetables, or compounds that form or release sugar when the coated seedis planted in soil.
 8. The coated seed according to claim 1, wherein thecoating further comprising a source of bicarbonate.
 9. The coated seedaccording to claim 8, wherein the source of bicarbonate comprisingsodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate or a combination of sodiumbicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate.
 10. The coated seed according toclaim 1, wherein the seed grind is unfit for human consumption and thefertilizer further comprising a source of sugar and a source ofbicarbonate.
 11. The coated seed according to claim 1, wherein the seedcomprises rice and the seed grind comprises ground rice seed.
 12. Thecoated seed according to claim 1, wherein the coating comprising 1% to99% of the seed grind, 0.2% to 97% of a source of sugar, 0.1% to 77% ofa bicarbonate, and 0.1% to 60% of a fertilizer nutrient.
 13. The coatedseed according to claim 1, wherein the coating further comprisingsucrose octaester.
 14. A method of enhancing the early growth of plantscomprising: applying a coating to a seed, the coating comprising a seedgrind formed from ground seed in an amount to enhance growth of aseedling growing from the seed.
 15. The method according to claim 14,wherein the seed grind comprising ground seed of a same type of plant asthe seed.
 16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the seed grindis not fit for human consumption and further comprises at least one ofadditional plant parts, dirt, contaminants, molds, fungi, dispersingagents, parting agents, binders, bacteria, herbicides, pesticides,fungicides, stabilizers, or additives.
 17. The method according to claim14, further comprising a source of sugar.
 18. The method according toclaim 14, further comprising a source of bicarbonate.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the seed grind is unfit for humanconsumption and the method further comprising a source of sugar and asource of bicarbonate.
 20. The method according to claim 14, wherein theseed comprises rice and the coating comprised ground rice seed.
 21. Amethod of growing seedlings at an enhanced rate comprising: planting acoated seed in soil to form a planted seed, the coating comprising aseed grind formed from ground seed in an amount to enhance growth of aseedling growing from the coated seed; and allowing the coated seed togrow into a seedling at an enhanced rate.
 22. The method according toclaim 21, further comprising measuring nutrients in a soil the seedlingis planted and applying a fertilizer to the soil surrounding the plantedseed.
 23. The method according to claim 21, further comprising adding 15to 25% more nitrogen to the soil than an amount required without theseed grind.
 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the seed grindcomprising ground seed of a same type of plant as the seed.
 25. Themethod according to claim 21, further comprising a source of sugar. 26.The method according to claim 21, further comprising a source ofbicarbonate.
 27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the seedgrind is unfit for human consumption and the method further comprising asource of sugar and a source of bicarbonate.
 28. The method according toclaim 21, wherein the seed comprises rice and the coating comprisedground rice seed.
 29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the seedcoating is applied in a rotary drum with lifting flights.
 30. The methodaccording to claim 21, further comprising an adherent comprising sucroseoctaester.